Kingston Land Trust hails ‘Greenline’ funding from NY state

KINGSTON >> The Kingston Land Trust says it is “thrilled” that the city has secure $2.3 million in state funding to, among other things, implement the “Kingston Greenline” project.

The grant, announced last week by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, is part of nearly $60 million in economic development aid going to 87 Mid-Hudson projects.

Some $1.5 million of the money awarded to the city will be used to make enhancements along the Broadway corridor, and $800,000 will be used for construction of a rail trail from Midtown to the Rondout Creek and Hudson River — both key elements of Kingston Greenline.

Advertisement

“This is the kind of announcement that affirms all of the hard work that has gone into this project over the past few years,” said Tim Weidemann, a member of the Kingston Land Trust’s Rail Trail Committee. “We are committed to a vision for a better Kingston, and we’re thrilled that now we’ll have a chance to put that vision into action.”

The Kingston Land Trust has partnered with the city and local organizations to “envision a future where Kingston offers better connections between neighborhoods, schools, businesses, parks and open spaces through a network of trails, bike paths, linear parks and complete streets,” a press release from the group states.

Kingston Mayor Shayne Gallo said in a press release that the state funding ”makes it possible to create a connection (the trail) that will provide residents and visitors with a safe, accessible and beautiful way to get from Midtown to the waterfront.”

“It’s all part of our collective efforts to make Kingston a model city in the Hudson Valley, and it’s a great success for the Kingston Land Trust and all city residents,” Gallo said.

Mark Castiglione, acting executive director of Hudson River Valley Greenway, which gave an initial grant to study the feasibility of a Kingston Point rail trail, said the newly announced state funding is a big step forward.

“This is a major win for the city, the Kingston Land Trust and the Hudson River Valley,” Castiglione said. “The Kingston Greenline is an example of the kind of effort we support up and down the valley, which connects our region’s population centers to the tremendous recreational, historical and scenic opportunities of the Hudson River.”

Ulster County Executive Michael Hein said the financial awards to the Kingston initiative and other trail projects in the county are critical.

“These trails — individually and collectively —- offer significant economic, public health and quality-of-life benefits to our county, and Kingston is pivotal to connecting these trails,”; Hein said.

“This is a catalytic win for our city,” said Gregg Swanzey, director of the Kingston Office for Economic Development and Strategic Partnership.

Swanzey also chairs the Kingston Land Trust Rail Trail Committee.

About the Author

Paul Kirby is a reporter for the Freeman, covering Kingston politics. He has been at the Freeman since August 1996. Reach the author at pkirby@freemanonline.com
or follow Paul on Twitter: @PaulatFreeman.